National on the Top: the discreet rooftop of rue Saint-Martin
A lookout atop a hotel in the 3rd
On rue Saint-Martin, close to the Musée des Arts et Métiers, the Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers hides a wooden terrace on its 7th floor, furnished with pale sofas and lined with planters of ornamental grasses and shrubs. Named National on the Top, this perched bar welcomes hotel guests and passing visitors alike, with no reservations. The space remains intimate, with around thirty seats.
The rooftops of Paris in 180°
From the terrace, the eye sweeps over the chimneys and zinc roofs to the Centre Pompidou, the Sacré-Cœur perched on its hill and, further away, the spires of Notre-Dame. Late afternoon is particularly popular, when the sun sinks over the city and music accompanies the conversations.
Spritzes and cocktails
The menu opens with Italian-style spritzes at €15, followed by more elaborate cocktails at €19 to €20: Fortunella with vodka, mandarin and vanilla, Colada Sunrise or Expresso Martini. Wines by the glass, champagnes and spirits round out the offer, along with a plate of daily snacks to share for €7.
Practical information
The rooftop is seasonal: it opens every year when the fine weather arrives, from spring, and closes during the winter. In season, it welcomes the public from 5pm to midnight on weekdays and from 4pm to midnight at weekends and on public holidays. Réaumur-Sébastopol (line 4) and Arts et Métiers (lines 3 and 11) stations are a few minutes' walk away. The terrace can also be booked privately during the day for an event.
With its leafy terrace and panoramic view over central Paris, National on the Top is an address to remember for summer evenings in the 3rd arrondissement.
